Lutheran High School Jan Amos Comenius offers the possibility of 5-year bilingual English – study English for 8th year graduates, respectively 9th year graduates and 5th year students. Candidates for study are invited to the tests that verify the assumptions of candidates for bilingual education and entrance examinations of the English and Slovak languages and mathematics. Number of candidates for the study is limited by the limited capacity of school buildings in which it is located, which are an obstacle to the adoption of a large number of candidates meeting the admission criteria.
The school currently has 586 pupils classified into 7 classes of eight-year study program and 12 classes of the five-year study. Their education provide 53 staff members consisting of internal and external teachers meeting the required qualifications and providing professional instruction of all subjects.
The school is bilingual and teaches Mathematics, Biology, Geography, History and Lutheran religion according to the specified curricula. Since 2000, the school has taught by an alternative curricula, starting from the third year respectively sexta and allows students in addition to compulsory subjects, in the increasing scale, undergo optional subjects of their choice in accordance with the interests of students and orientation for further academic study. For example, the compulsory subjects for students in the 5th year include English Language, the other living language, Social studies, Lutheran religion and Physical Education. Other subjects students select from a wide range of optional subjects.
This academic year 1st year students are taught by the new school education program which operates in line with the reform of education. The Curriculum was prepared in such a way that respects the state prescribed curriculum framework. It reinforces that 1st year students are taught extra English language classes in order to create sufficient space for further bilingually taught courses in the graduation and pre-graduation year so that there will be room for electives which have been part of an alternative curriculum.
Of course, there have been some changes done, such as teaching the second foreign language (German, French, Russian) from the beginning of the 1st year not from the second, as it has been so far.
For every student is compulsory to attend Lutheran religion, which is predominantly taught by Lutheran priests – graduates of Theological seminars.
Graduate students have the opportunity to pass the state language exam as part of their final exams. Their language skills not only in English but also in other foreign languages are sufficient to undergo studies at foreign universities. Many of our graduates study at elite universities in the UK and France.In 2016 our students will take the school leaving examination from Engish language at the C1 level.
The quality of teaching is proved by quantitative indicators such as average school mark, the average mark of individual classes and individual subjects as well as success in the external part of high school final examination, in written part of an internal examination, and in the oral form of the internal parts of examination, as well as the external audit of the state school inspection carried out in 2006. The results of all these measurements show that the school exceeds the national and regional average.
Large space is created for the interests of students. Each year approximately 70% of students are involved in more than 20 after-school courses/clubs with different focus. Foreign languages, sport activities and choral singing are common optional subjects. School facilitates specialist classrooms and teaching aids as well as the professional competence of many young teachers, but not only them, allow modernized forms of teaching and use of information and communication technology. Considerable attention is given to training teachers, while respecting their interest in educational activities and the needs of school.
In addition to traditional forms of lessons, education and learning process is also carried out through a wide range of excursions. Students have the opportunity to attend professional lectures and chaired by leading representatives of scientific, cultural, social, religious and political life. They are provided with valuable cultural events, too. School year is ended with class trips.
Their ability to absorb and develop knowledge students successfully demonstrate inrepresenting school in all levels and subjects, in Olympics competitions and other contests but also through their own presentation and preparation of cultural programmes and projects.
The fact that school is Christian means that there is other than the traditional spirit of school, the teachers approach is different than in other schools even though their demands and teaching standards are high.
